NEW YORK — Brad Pitt says it was important for his partner, Angelina Jolie, to share her story about having her breasts removed to avoid cancer "and that others would understand it doesn't have to be a scary thing."

Jolie revealed Tuesday in an op-ed article in The New York Times that she had a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction for an inherited gene mutation that put her at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Pitt called the experience "an emotional and beautifully inspiring few months."

He added: "It's such a wonderful relief to come through this and not have a specter hanging over our heads. To know that that's not going to be something that's going to affect us. My most proudest thing is our family. This isn't going to get that."